Receiving Israel's new ambassador to the Holy See, Mordechay Lewy, Benedict XVI stated that Rome and Jerusalem represent two sources of faith and inspiration for Western society and the Holy See condemns all forms of anti-semitism. The Pope highlighted the common links between the Christian and Jewish worlds, and emphasized the importance of insuring peace, stability and security in the Middle East. He added that the presence of the Church should contribute to people's development and to overcoming existing divisions between Jews and Muslims. While restating his condemnation of anti-semitism, Benedict XVI observed that the Holy See upholds all people's right to self-improvement and asked the Israeli government to work to alleviate the sufferings of the Palestinians in a context of peace and development that involves the entire Middle East.